I recently finished Andrew Beaujon's glimpse into the world of Christian Rock. Body Piercing Saved My Life is not a great read but it does have moments of insight and fun reading.

Check availability on Bookmooch: link
Buy from Amazon.com: link

Overall, it comes across somewhat disjointed, as if it's a collection of essays. Beaujon is not a Christian but he is fair and even-handed throughout. He offers raves for David Crowder as being the main artist that gave him a more positive view on worship music.

There is one excerpt that I found extremely interesting as to how an outsider views us:

Worship music is the logical conclusion of Christian adult contemporary music--not just unappealing but unbearable to anyone not already in the fold. Every song follows the same parameters. It opens gently, with tinkling arpeggios or synthesized harp glissandos that portend the imminence of something celestial in glacial 4/4 time. In the second verse, the band--invariably excellent players--soft-pedals in, gaining in volume to the bridge. And then the chorus. Heavens, the choruses. They could put U2 out of business for good, they're so huge. Another verse. A middle eight. Then, a breakdown when the audience takes over singing. Another massive chorus. Fin.

This isn't music to appreciate; it's music to experience. People at a worship service close their eyes and, as ecstacy spreads across their faces, begin to rock rhythmically, arms out, mouthing the lyrics. It's more than a little sexual and a tad uncomfortable if you're sitting next to an attractive person who's been overcome by the Spirit.

Worship tunes tend to evince an adolescent theology, one that just can't get over how darn cool it is that Jesus sacrificed himself for the world. "Our God is an awesome God." "O Lord, you are glorious." "How can it be/That you, a king, would die for me?" Morever, it's self-centered in a way that reflects evangelicalism's near-obsession with having a personal relationship with Christ. It's me Jesus died for. I just gotta praise the Lord.

Not fornothing is "Amazing Grace," which marvels at the author's salvation, one of the few traditional hymns to be regularly included in modern worship services. Absent is any hint of community found in hymns such as "The Church Is One Foundation (sic)"--the Jesus of worship music is a mentor, a buddy, a friend whose message is easily distilled to a simple command: praise me. Not "feed the poor, clothe the naked visit the prisoner." Simply thank Him for His gift to you (and make sure to display copyright information at the bottom of the screen so royalties can be disbursed).

All of which I could bear, or at least imagine defending, if all the songs didn't sound the same. Now, I don't want to be a total bully here. Obviously, worship music means a lot to many people, and there are worship songs that stand up on their own, as music--I left Nashville humming one called "Blessed Be Your Name" for weeks--but they're in the minority. As is any hint of evangelizing--this is music by the saved only, for the saved ony, an art form where the images projected on giant screens are more fruitful sources of meditation and reflection than the lyrics superimposed on them.